Profile For rightlane

I haven't been on long at all, but If you have any questions, feel free to hit me up.

Thanks S.B. Sent you a message.

Happy new year everyone!

Well I test for my CDL 4 January and am down to just deciding which company to start out with. Trying to decide between Maverick and McElroy. Have read the posts on both companies, chatted with drivers from each company, researched each company, and have made a spreadsheet listing each company's benefits. Both are good companies, both offer a couple of things the other does not, my gut tells me Maverick, then it tells me McElroy! The good news is that it is nice to have options and I feel that with either company, staying there a year plus would be easy to do. Not asking you all which company to go with, as I know the answer that is given on this site and that makes total sense to me. This journey started back in June when I decided to get my CDL and phase one of the journey, getting my CDL, will be done, hopefully, next week. Phase two is picking a company and heading off to orientation, is now within site. Phase three will be finishing training and then getting my own truck!!!

Guess I don't really have any questions, just making a post about where I am in this process and wanted to give thanks to all who have posted on this site. Lots of good info to be found here.

Where are you located? I'm new with McElroy. Few weeks under my belt. Us South / North Carolina and Virginia boys run mostly building materials, lumber, sheetrock, Lowes, shingles, ect and it can get slow in the Winter. The sheetrock has been short hauls, but there is a minimum pay depending where you are hauling out of. The guys in Alabama, Tenn, Texas ect run all that and steel, so they have more options in the winter. Out the Pleasant Hill, NC terminal we don't haul any steel or anything requiring chains, we only strap. To haul steel you have to go down to Cuba, Alabama to train. Most the loads such as Lowes and Sheetrock are pre-tarped (Drop and Hook), but you will have to bungee them and fix / tighten straps. Lumber must be tarped, but many places have a tarping machine, a few don't. Lowes runs are great, you pick up a trailer from distribution, run it to a store loaded, then have to take it back to distribution and get paid the same empty miles, which you will learn empty is easy. So if you take it 300 miles, you will turn around and return for 300 empty. This is because these trailers belong to Lowes.

I have been home every weekend, leaving out on Sunday. Holidays I've had good time off. This week I came home on 12-30 and go back out 1-3 Sunday. Had 4 days off for Christmas also. Both slow weeks you will receive the minimal pay, 600 dollars.....if you don't get miles / loads. The company also pays for / gives you free health insurance and free disability / life insurance. I just started and Mr. McElroy sent me a Wal-Mart gift card for Christmas. Seems like a good company in my opinion. That said, they take training very serious, lots of testsing, written open book on policy and backing skills they are big on testing.

Biggest thing to consider, if you live in the Carolinas / Virgina or mid Atlantic, it may get slow in Late December and January, but there is a minimum pay guarantee and lay over ect. From what I'm told Spring and Summer will be booming. Such is the flatbed industry.

Mavrick is Automatics, McElroy runs International Prostars 10 speeds. Oldest trucks I've seen are 2013 and heard Mr McElroy was trying to phase them out, was some issues with the 12 and 13's.

Hey S.B.! I live in central Kentucky, south of Lexington. What interested me in McElroy, is getting you home on Fridays, the higher tuition reimbursement, free driver healthcare, being able to park at Lowe's overnight or on home time and pre loaded/tarped loads to mention a few perks. Was reading through the info packet about orientation, if I decided on McElroy, I will have to buy a few collared shirts as I saw were tee shirts were not allowed. No problem though. Thanks for the input, I might have a few more questions for you if you have the time.

Thanks for sharing the progress you've made, along with the decision you face.

Regardless of the choice you make, I'm sure you will be successful, especially with the determination and the ambition you have to enter the industry.

Good luck, and all the best to you!

Happy New Year.

Thanks Steve B.! Good luck to you also as you travel down this road!

Good luck buddy

Thanks James R. It is nice to have options as we enter into our new careers.

Happy new year everyone!

Well I test for my CDL 4 January and am down to just deciding which company to start out with. Trying to decide between Maverick and McElroy. Have read the posts on both companies, chatted with drivers from each company, researched each company, and have made a spreadsheet listing each company's benefits. Both are good companies, both offer a couple of things the other does not, my gut tells me Maverick, then it tells me McElroy! The good news is that it is nice to have options and I feel that with either company, staying there a year plus would be easy to do. Not asking you all which company to go with, as I know the answer that is given on this site and that makes total sense to me. This journey started back in June when I decided to get my CDL and phase one of the journey, getting my CDL, will be done, hopefully, next week. Phase two is picking a company and heading off to orientation, is now within site. Phase three will be finishing training and then getting my own truck!!!

Guess I don't really have any questions, just making a post about where I am in this process and wanted to give thanks to all who have posted on this site. Lots of good info to be found here.

Hey rightlane I can't give you any info on Mav other than the ones I've met seem to be ok dudes. I can tell u after 6 1/2 mono with MTL. that I'm plenty happy. You can always look up and if there's a few comp guys hanging around you're sure to get some help just as long as you are willing to return the favor sometime. Plus I like them RED trucks, especially this time of year

Thanks Parrothead66! My app is in the review boards hands, hoping I hear something back this week about it. If I should get a pre hire I have decided to go with McElroy. I also like the red trucks, plus having a large % of loads pre-loaded/tarped, and getting home on Fridays. I have always been one to lend a hand when someone needed it. Thanks again to you, Reformed Squid and the others who have posted your experiences with McElroy and have answered my questions.

Hey Tyler, I am not sure if there are Maverick drivers here or not as I am new to the site also. But there is a driver, Dale Clay, on youtube who has documented his Maverick journey the past year or so starting with orientation. There is also a facebook page titled Maverick Drivers Q & A. You can post questions on both sites, and like this site, feel you are getting straightforward answers. Good luck with your research.

Hey right lane weekly mileage average is yes. Lol, you will run every week I have had some weeks where I only ran 1400, & I have had a couple above 2500. 2700 is my best week. To be completely honest with you 1900-2200 is the best I van offer. To add you spouse depends on the package but $75 a week is bout right. Don't need steel toe boots there is not a place for a fridge but some of us have the coolerators and they work fine. We don't have inventors so everything is 12V. But there are plenty of those plugs in these trucks. There is a referral bonus don't know what it is or how long you have to be with the company to get it. And we get raises annually with max out at 49 or 48 cpm.

Thanks Reformed Squid! Hope to hear about my app soon. I have a pre hire with Maverick and am hoping to hear word from McElroy soon so I can make a decision. Really like that McElroy gets you home each Friday and you can park at Lowes while out on the road or during home time. Thanks again and have a good weekend.

Hey there everyone. Finally getting back to this post as I have a few questions for you McElroy drivers; -average weekly miles? I know there are a lot of variables to weekly miles, but did not know if McElroy had an average they used. -anyone know how much it is to add your spouse to the health care? Have looked through their website but did not find any info. I am guessing $60-80 a week. -is there a place for a fridge? I enjoy cooking and plan on cooking in my truck. -does McElroy install an electronics you might want or do you do this yourself? -cb's, are they all ready installed in your truck? -is there a referral bonus? -do I need steel toe shoes for orientation? Was thinking I would get a pair now to have time to break them in. -do you take advantage of parking at Lowes while on the road or on your hometime? -any performance bonus? -how often are raises given? Granted 46 cpm is really good just starting out.

Sorry for all the questions, was trying to get them all in one post. My application is in the review committee, so hoping I hear something back by next week.

A little bit about myself, I am another one of those dude's in his early 50's who is making a career change. Been self employed for while, been there done that, it was nice, just did not pay enough. My wife is in school. No kids other than the 4 legged variety. Very much looking forward to my new career choice. Just finished up week 3 of cdl school, one more week to go.

Thanks to all who have posted here! Very nice to be able to post questions and have "real life" drivers answer them. Unless you all are posers sitting in your Mom's basement! ha ha ha

Enjoy the day and stay safe out there.

Stella Blue (favorite Grateful Dead song) aka "rightlane" on the cb

Hey Stella welcome aboard. This is a great site you will get no b.s. answers and get some aquick replies. You should do fine on your test, bc that day in history 32 years ago a great man was born.... Me lol. Anyhow I am a driver mentor/trainer with McElroy ask anything you want and I will answer honestly good bad and the ugly.

Thanks for the reply Reformed Squid. I'll keep 5 Jan in mind as I test for my CDL! I do have a few questions that I thought of after talking with the McElroy recruiter and will post them later today. Running short on time this morning as I have an hour drive each way to school. Thanks again and stay safe out there.